摘要:

Abstract:Injury purposely inflicted by other persons is a significant public health problem as well as a criminal problem. It accounts for approximately 3 per cent of all deaths from injury in New Zealand. National injury mortality data for the period 1978 to 1987, supplemented by reference to files of the Coroner's Court and the High Court, were used to identify the characteristics of victims of homicide, the nature of the injuries they sustained, and the circumstances in which the injuries were inflicted. The mortality rate from homicide for the 10‐year period was 1.6 per 100 000 persons per year. A significant increase in the rate of homicide was identified. The rates for males were higher (2.0) than those for females (1.2), with those 20 to 24 years of age most at risk. Maori had higher rates than non‐Maori. Homicides were most frequently committed with cutting and piercing instruments, and most commonly occurred in private homes. Homicides were most likely to occur on Fridays or Saturdays, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In 55 per cent of homicides the victim and assailant were known to one another. Unemployment, membership of ethnic minority groups, availability of weapons, the private nature of interactions in the home, alcohol consumption, and stress in personal relationships were all identified as factors associated with homicide in the decade under study. The implications of these findings for the prevention of injury from assault are discus

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00297.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:A survey of their children's immunisation status was conducted among mothers of babies from a three‐month birth cohort (January to March 1990) in the Northern Sydney Area in 1992. Its aims were to determine the uptake of immunisation in the area, to examine factors associated with immunisation status, and to assess agreement between the parent's reporting of this status and records of councils and general practitioners. Fifty‐eight per cent of the questionnaires (1004) were returned. The full immunisation rate was 86 per cent, 14 per cent were partially immunised and only four children had received no immunisations. Between 74 per cent and 82 per cent of vaccinations were on time at two, four and six months; the rate dropped to 21 per cent at 12 months. Logistic regression analysis showed that premature babies are significantly more likely to be fully immunised, whereas children who have had a serious childhood illness, those with a single mother, or whose mothers are more highly educated, are significantly less likely to be fully immunised. There was 60 per cent agreement between the parent's report of immunisation status and a subgroup of 197 council and 82 general practitioner records. Although all councils in the Northern Sydney Area have a reminder system, most immunisations were found to be done in general practices (64 per cent), where reminder systems are not com

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00298.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:The dietary behaviours of and recent dietary change by volunteers for a nutrition education program were compared with those of a more population‐representative sample. The population sample was randomly selected from the electoral rolls of three Australian cities. Those selected received questionnaires which were to be completed and returned by mail. The sample of volunteers was recruited from the electoral rolls of suburbs of either high or low social status in one of these cities. Volunteers were posted a questionnaire, to be returned in person. A quantified food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate relative intake of 19 nutrients, plus energy intake. Occupation, age, sex, reported recent dietary change and diet‐related beliefs were also assessed. The population sample was weighted to the age and occupational distribution of the education program sample. Compared to the 874 respondents in the population sample (70.4 per cent response rate), the 487 volunteers (24.2 per cent response rate) for the nutrition education program had healthier nutrient intakes and reported more dietary behaviour changes. Recruitment in the education program was greater in areas of higher social status (32 per cent) than in areas of lower social status (20 per cent). The potential effect of such a program on the whole population was demonstrated by the proportions that volunteered and the characteristics of these volunteers. The need to provide a range of opportunities for changing dietary behaviour, according to the health‐related behaviours and beliefs of target groups and their socioeconomic circumstances, was highli

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00299.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:Data on the associations between leisure‐time physical activity and other health behaviours are conflicting. The National Heart Foundation 1989 Risk Factor Prevalence Survey data were analysed to examine the associations between leisure‐time physical activity and other life‐style health behaviours in a national representative sample with adjustment for potential confounders. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis using data from 9054 respondents aged 20 to 69 years showed that participation in leisure‐time physical activity, even when it was not vigorous, was weakly associated with not smoking, following a special diet and moderate consumption of alcohol; it was inversely associated with obesity. These weak associations could influence health practices at a population level if, as has been hypothesised, the adoption of leisure activity promotes the adoption of other good health practices. Confirmation of earlier findings of cross‐sectional associations between activity and other positive health practices justifies future prospective or experimental studies to determine the behavioural response to adoption of leisure‐time physic

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00300.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:The seasonal pattern in hip fracture rates and its relationship to weather variables was studied using hospital admission data for New South Wales. There was a consistent seasonal pattern for hip fracture, with a trough in the summer and a peak in the winter, for the six years for which data were available: 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990. The seasonal trends for all years were statistically significant (P<0.01) in men and in women, and in people who were 75 years and over. The relationship between the monthly admission rates for hip fracture in Sydney and such weather variables as mean daily minimum temperature, mean cloud cover, number of days with strong wind, number of days of fog, number of days of mist and number of days with 0.1 mm or more rainfall in a month were studied by Poisson regression. The mean daily minimum temperature for each month was the single weather variable independently and consistently associated with the monthly rates of hip fracture in both younger and older people. For the first time, a seasonal pattern for hip fracture and its close association with monthly temperature in Australia has been demonstrated.

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00301.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:Fair access is a value enshrined through universal insurance for health care in Australia. However, dentistry is not included in this system. As a consequence, there is a strong likelihood of inequalities in access to dental services among adults. Data from the 1989–90 National Health Survey were analysed to determine sociodemographic factors related to use and comprehensiveness of dental services. Age, income, age of leaving school and occupation were independently associated with the use of dental services, and occupation was associated with an indicator of comprehensiveness of care: self‐reported extraction at the last visit. In different adult age groups these sociodemographic factors had different effects, with the disparities in use of dental services greater in older age groups. Planning of dental services in the 1990s and beyond should include not only the removal of financial barriers to dental services among adults but also attention to the specific barriers experienced by the elde

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00302.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:Doctors sometimes examine or suggest examination of the skin for signs of skin cancer, and self‐examination of the skin has been promoted in some public education materials. A representative sample of 590 residents of Victoria was asked whether they or their doctors had ever deliberately checked for signs of skin cancer, and whether their doctors had ever suggested such a check. Respondents also indicated their skin type by degree of freckling and propensity to sunburn. The results suggest that females have a higher level of skin awareness than males. People prone to sunburn and heavily freckled individuals were more likely to have checked their skin, and doctors were more likely to have suggested a check to highly freckled individuals. Self‐examination, examination by a doctor and recommendations from doctors for self‐examination were all positively associated with each other, indicating that a section of the population was identified by themselves or their doctors as being at risk, but this group was not well defined by the two indices of risk used in the s

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00303.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:Chlorine, commonly used to disinfect drinking water, produces by‐products known from animal studies to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. Most epidemiological studies into the possible association between chlorination by‐products in drinking water and cancer have been ecological in nature, or have relied on case‐control designs based on death certificates. Interpretation of results arising from these studies is limited. Individual levels of toxicant exposure and many potential confounders and effect modifiers are unable to be accounted for in the analyses. At best, these studies generate hypotheses that require more definitive investigation. Misclassification of individuals based on inaccurate assessment of the level of exposure is probable. The few analytic studies able to overcome or minimise these problems suggest a clear link between exposure to chlorinated drinking water and the development of urinary bladder cancer. They also suggest a possible link with rectal cancer. However, these studies have classified subjects by exposure to chlorinated drinking water, rather than to levels of chlorine and its by‐products in drinking water. To date, the link between levels of chlorine and its by‐products in water, levels of consumption and cancer has not been made. Information on the levels of chlorine and some by‐products is available in many water jurisdictions in Australia. Further, epidemiological methods can be employed to quantify water consumption. Case‐control studies linking these parameters would help us to understand the magnitude of the risk to human populations and provide a basis to investigate mechanisms for r

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00304.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:This article describes a method of linking anonymous subjects with a respondent‐generated code using an algorithm based on personal details to produce unique identifiers. It was used to increase confidentiality and statistical power in a yearlong work‐place health promotion evaluation. Subjects were employees of a large retail chain; 80 per cent were female, and the majority educated to high school level. Of the 385 possible, 81 per cent matched; 67 per cent of the codes were matched on all elements and another 14 per cent were accepted as ‘fuzzy’ matches. Linking respondents increased the statistical power of the study from an unacceptable 0.4 to an acceptable 0.8. Other research on linking records is briefly discussed, including sample bias and probabilistic matching. This technique is useful when anonymity is likely to raise response rates, but the ideal code could be further

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00305.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract:Offering Pap tests to hospital inpatients could increase cervical screening rates. A survey to examine the acceptability of this concept was conducted with female inpatients in a rural public hospital. A large majority reported that they would find hospital Pap tests acceptable. Acceptability was not related to Pap test status, attitudes, or knowledge of cervical cancer. This strategy may provide access to cervical screening for underscreened groups.

ISSN:1035-7319    

DOI:10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00306.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY